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Rapid City, SD
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Windy with snow tapering off this morning but skies will remain cloudy this afternoon. Some sleet may mix in. High 34F. Winds NNW at 20 to 30 mph. Chance of snow 90%. Snow accumulations less than one inch..

House OKs help for deaf children

PIERRE | South Dakota children who are deaf or hard of hearing could receive more help from state government under legislation that won approval Tuesday from the state House of Representatives.

House members decided 62-3 to create an advisory council of nine to 15 people who would work with the state Department of Education on resources for language development parents could use.

Representatives also agreed 64-1 the state Board of Regents could hire one person to be superintendent for the state School for the Deaf at Sioux Falls and the state School for the Blind and Visually Impaired in Aberdeen.

Marj Kaiser has held both jobs for eight years. HB 1155 and HB 1058 head to the governor’s office for review.

Wine deal

House members approved a one-year deal that creates a wine-manufacturing class of licenses. SB 187 limits manufacturers to importing 50 percent of bulk wine from outside South Dakota.

State law otherwise restricts farm wineries to South Dakota products unless a state official grants exemptions to individual applicants. The sides reached agreement last week.

“There are jobs that rely on this,” said Rep. Tim Rounds, R-Pierre. The House vote was 58-7. The bill now returns to the Senate for a decision whether to agree.

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Honoring Peter Norbeck

South Dakota seems headed toward Aug. 27 becoming a working holiday for Peter Norbeck. The House voted 63-3 to honor the former governor and U.S. senator. SB 204 now goes to the governor for review.

“Norbeck made South Dakota what it is today,” said Rep. Tom Holmes, R-Sioux Falls.

Among his achievements were creating Custer State Park, bringing President Calvin Coolidge to the State Game Lodge and arranging early funding for sculpting Mount Rushmore National Memorial.

“We all know how important Mount Rushmore is,” said Rep. Tim Reed, R-Brookings. “Norbeck worked tirelessly to improve South Dakota.”

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